Nick Ellis + Eric Sommer

Folklore presents… Nick Ellis + Eric Sommer

NICK ELLIS is dedicated to the concept of “Song” and “Melody”. Some people call it folk, some just call it good old fashioned songcraft. Currently based in Liverpool, Ellis blends streetscape narrative-noir with a classic British acoustic approach. Using a blend of rhythmic attack and finger-quick lucidity, his sound has been described as “a conversation between Elvis Costello and John Martyn.”

On his songwriting Ellis says: “I see my songs as chapters and scenes. My albums as movies and books. Except, in this film, these stories are true…”

“His guitar style stands out as much as the songwriting”
Dave Monks, BBC Introducing / Radio Merseyside

“Wonderful”
Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music

“Ellis is a brilliant songwriter, with total disregard for the genre boundaries that can so often restrict acoustic artists. Ellis brings forth song after song of cohesively chill-provoking material that spans from blues, folk and country yet continuously remains in Nick Ellis’ unique style.”
Zach Jones, Getintothis

“Nick Ellis carries the song above and beyond the traditional, propelling it into the realms of a psyche soundscape”
Bido Lito

“One of Liverpool’s finest”
Peter Guy, Get Into This

“Hauntingly captivating, Nick Ellis has the gift many could only dream of”
Lauren Jones, The Music Manual

“Sounding like the sun looks from the top of a hazy Hope Street on a summer afternoon”
Alan O’Hare, Liverpool Etc

“Whatever accolades Ellis receives in the future; they will be thoroughly and richly deserved”
Graham Holland, Liverpool Acoustic

“Without a doubt one of the finest, most versatile players on the road today, Eric is a mash of styles that cover slide, finger-style, pure blues groove and dynamic improv approaches he calls “no fear playing”.

Eric spent two years in the EU with Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, returned to Boston and formed “The Atomics”, and moved to the DC area after five years of shows and tours with Mission of Burma, Gang of Four and The Dead Kennedy’s and numerous Boston bands.

Eric traces his musical stylings and influences to Jeff Beck, Bert Jansch, Davy Graham and Steve Howe (YES). On the free form side it’s Pat Martino, Al DiMeola and Joe Pass and the early catalog of Dave Brubeck with Joe Morello and Paul Desmond. Eric is steeped in the acoustic traditions of Doc Watson and Merle Travis, and the various experimental approaches of Philip Glass and the Small Movement.

Watching this guitar great will “make you jump out of your seat and hollar for joy” says Bugs Madison, in an interview for UK Melody Mag, 2012.

His credits include shows, tours, solo appearances and mixing drinks on the bus for everyone from 2014-2015 Tour Stars Bugsy LowLow, rockin’ the old school with Little Feat, John Mayall, Jerry Douglas, Sarah Watkins, John Hammond, Jr., to Spider John Koerner, David Bromberg, Leon Redbone, Buddy Guy, T Model Ford, and just about everyone in between… simply too many to name.